Radio Shack Scanners and Rebanding

[WalkieTalkie]

Can someone please advise me if the Radio Shack Pro-95 radio shack scanner is compatiable with the rebanding. If not, where can I send it to get the update for it?

 

[kf7yn]

Sorry the Pro-95 is not reband capable. You'll need to get one of the newer models.

 

[WalkieTalkie]

Can I send it somewhere so they can update the version?

 

[pro92b]

Can I send it somewhere so they can update the version?

No, the PRO-95 is long out of production and there is no update available. If rebanding has affected systems in your area, you need to buy a current scanner model that supports rebanding.

 

[qlajlu]

The RR Wiki has lists of scanners and indicates if they are capable of accepting firmware updates to make them usable after rebanding. If it says "no" then the scanner will have to be replaced for you to continue to scan after rebanding, but this only applies to trunked public safety systems. The scanner will continue to be useful for conventional VHF/UHF frequencies.

Radio Shack Scanners.

Uniden Scanners.

 

[LGLHOOK]

Do we have to send our scanners Pro-96, Pro-2096) in for update or is there a link online for an update does anyone know?

 

[pro92b]

Do we have to send our scanners Pro-96, Pro-2096) in for update or is there a link online for an update does anyone know?

You can program it yourself with Win96.
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100208

 

[WalkieTalkie]

Anyone wanna buy a pro-97 scanner...well i just need to save money up to buy a new one at least I can still listen for a while. Does anyone know when this is going to be completed?

 

[LGLHOOK]

You can program it yourself with Win96.
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100208

Thanks for the link sir.

 

[qlajlu]

Does anyone know when this is going to be completed?

As you know, the UCAN Radio Engineers are aggressively changing sites all over the state now. They have begun with the smaller sites and working up, but I don't think you have much more than maybe a couple of months before it is all done and the dust starts to settle. As I recall, they originally intended to have this done by the end of 2008 and I would say they are doing their level best to hold to that schedule.

Keep a close eye on the thread, "UCAN Rebanding has started," because each site is being reported there with their new frequencies as they are switched.

 

[qlajlu]

You know, WalkieTalkie, using the information provided in the RR Wiki as a guideline telling you which scanners can be updated for use after rebanding, you might keep an eye on the secondary markets such as eBay, Amazon, even Craigs List, and don't forget the RR Classifieds Forums. You might luck out and find a perfectly good used scanner that will continue to give you scanning ability after the rebanding is finished until you could afford a new unit with all the bells and whistles.

 

[bneilson]

Anyone wanna buy a pro-97 scanner.

Makes a great scanner for Unitrunker. Easy to modify and would be great for this application...

 

[LGLHOOK]

You know, WalkieTalkie, using the information provided in the RR Wiki as a guideline telling you which scanners can be updated for use after rebanding, you might keep an eye on the secondary markets such as eBay, Amazon, even Craigs List, and don't forget the RR Classifieds Forums. You might luck out and find a perfectly good used scanner that will continue to give you scanning ability after the rebanding is finished until you could afford a new unit with all the bells and whistles.

I have had nothing but GREAT luck buying scanners right here on RR, good call qlajlu.

 

[WalkieTalkie]

I apologize I mistakenly stated that I have a pro-95 when I acctually have a pro-97. I know I know, it is not compatiable. Thank you for the links they were helpful. The only question I have is that the pro-97 did take the nelson peak control channel of 853.5500. So I am asking what difference will I see? Because it seems to be working.

 

[qlajlu]

I apologize I mistakenly stated that I have a pro-95 when I acctually have a pro-97. I know I know, it is not compatiable. Thank you for the links they were helpful. The only question I have is that the pro-97 did take the nelson peak control channel of 853.5500. So I am asking what difference will I see? Because it seems to be working.

The problem is that the band plan is different. The way I understand it the biggest obstacle is that the step size in the rebanded frequency list is 12.5 MHz compared to 25 MHz prior to rebanding. Without flashing the scanner, the scanner cannot make the correct step size moving from frequency to frequency so it cannot follow the conversations. That is why they published the "Custom Band Plan" for us to upload to our scanners...or at least for those of us running GRE scanners, so the scanner would understand the new step sizes. Some models of scanners just cannot be flashed so as to understand the difference; others can.

I have the same problem with my beloved Uniden BC780XLTs. I can program the new CCs and the frequencies, but even in CC only mode, they cannot follow the conversations because of the step size.

 

[todd_18]

Does anything need to be changed on a pro-164
I changed the Nelson Peak CC and it seams to be working, just don't know how to tell if I'm missing anything?

 

[DonS]

The problem is that the band plan is different. The way I understand it the biggest obstacle is that the step size in the rebanded frequency list is 12.5 MHz compared to 25 MHz prior to rebanding. Without flashing the scanner, the scanner cannot make the correct step size moving from frequency to frequency so it cannot follow the conversations. That is why they published the "Custom Band Plan" for us to upload to our scanners...or at least for those of us running GRE scanners, so the scanner would understand the new step sizes. Some models of scanners just cannot be flashed so as to understand the difference; others can.

I have the same problem with my beloved Uniden BC780XLTs. I can program the new CCs and the frequencies, but even in CC only mode, they cannot follow the conversations because of the step size.

The step size between Motorola's "channels" is still 25kHz. The problem lies in the fact that Mot moved 120 channels (440 through 559) to a new "base frequency".

Most scanners have an internal table that maps channel number to frequency, using a formula like:
voice freq = (channel - offset) x step + base

Prior to rebanding, Mot's channels 0 through 719 shared a common base and offset, yielding voice frequencies from 851.0125 - 868.9875 MHz, on 25kHz steps. Scanners "know about" that default mapping. Now, however, channels 440-559 have moved, and most scanners don't "know about" it.

Some scanners allow the user to enter a set of tables, overriding the internal table mentioned above, that will handle the new mappings. At present, the only scanners that do this are the PRO-96/2096 and PSR-500/600. It's hoped that other scanners, those that support upgradeable firmware, will be updated to allow this.

apologize I mistakenly stated that I have a pro-95 when I acctually have a pro-97. I know I know, it is not compatiable. Thank you for the links they were helpful. The only question I have is that the pro-97 did take the nelson peak control channel of 853.5500. So I am asking what difference will I see? Because it seems to be working.

The above frequency calculation, where channels 440-559 have moved, only affects voice frequencies. If that "rebanded" frequency 853.5500 MHz is used only as a control channel (and never voice), your PRO-97 will continue to work. As soon as a rebanded frequency (851.0250 - 854.0000 MHz, on 25 kHz steps) is used for voice, though, your PRO-97 won't be able to tune to the voice frequency.

 

[DonS]

Does anything need to be changed on a pro-164
I changed the Nelson Peak CC and it seams to be working, just don't know how to tell if I'm missing anything?

See the last paragraph of post #17 above.

The PRO-164 works the same as the PRO-97, and has the same "fixed" trunking tables. The PRO-164, however, supports upgradeable firmware, so we'll have to hope GRE/RS comes out with a firmware update to support "rebanding".

 

[WalkieTalkie]

So at the present time any scanner that I buy will not work unless I buy an expensive one costing more than $400. Am I correct?

 

[qlajlu]

So at the present time any scanner that I buy will not work unless I buy an expensive one costing more than $400. Am I correct?

Not necessarily. Re-read the next post.

You know, WalkieTalkie, using the information provided in the RR Wiki as a guideline telling you which scanners can be updated for use after rebanding, you might keep an eye on the secondary markets such as eBay, Amazon, even Craigs List, and don't forget the RR Classifieds Forums. You might luck out and find a perfectly good used scanner that will continue to give you scanning ability after the rebanding is finished until you could afford a new unit with all the bells and whistles.

As I said, there is a very good possibility that you could find an affordable, usable, used scanner that will fill your needs until you could afford a BIG NEW TOY. It is too bad that new ones cost so much, but you certainly are not the only one feeling the pinch.